The Relationship of Brain Development and Breastfeeding in the Late-Preterm Infant

Late-preterm infants (34 0/7-36 6/7 weeks gestation) are physiologically and developmentally immature at birth. The relationship between brain development and feeding is important since adequate oral intake is imperative to prevent feeding-related morbidity and mortality associated with being late preterm. One third of brain growth occurs in the last 6-8 weeks of gestation. The ontogeny of coordinated oral feeding appears to follow a chronological, predictable pattern in preterm neonates. This suggests that neurodevelopmental maturation, rather than experience or learned behavior, is largely responsible for feeding behaviors. The aim of this article is to provide a review of the literature that establishes the relationship between brain development and feeding in the late-preterm infant. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.